Jenson Button makes ‘frustrating’ Lewis Hamilton comment after watching his first season with Ferrari

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Lewis Hamilton has plenty of reasons to be hopeful for the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari currently sit second in the constructors’ championship, despite having failed to win a Grand Prix this year.

Lewis Hamilton’s victory during the Sprint Race in China is their best achievement in 2025, with Charles Leclerc having secured all four of their podiums this season.

Max Verstappen and George Russell have won races for Red Bull and Mercedes, but they’ve faced problems of their own that make the battle to be the best of the rest so exciting.

Hamilton is currently 16 points behind Leclerc in the drivers’ championship and has made some ground up on his teammate during recent races.

Leclerc said Hamilton was Ferrari’s only positive from the British Grand Prix, after finishing fourth and looking like he had the pace during qualifying to potentially secure pole position.

Ferrari have a major rear suspension update arriving soon, and the Belgian Grand Prix could be the turning point that team principal Fred Vasseur needs.

However, Jenson Button is among a number of ex-F1 drivers who haven’t been blown away by the seven-time world champion’s start to life with the Scuderia.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Jenson Button says Lewis Hamilton will find not getting the maximum out of his Ferrari ‘frustrating’

Button was taking part in a feature on Formula 1’s official website and was asked to assess Hamilton’s start to life with Ferrari.

He explained: “You always expect Lewis to be at the front, you expect him to be on a par with his teammate, if not better, but we’ve not seen that this year.

|It’s always difficult changing teams, but especially to a team that’s not a British team. It’s an Italian team, he’s never experienced that before, or since karting, and his teammate speaks the language, he’s really embedded in the team.

“So, it’s tricky, but if anyone can be competitive in that car, moving in the way that he has, it’s Lewis.

“It’s a matter of time, but I’m sure it’s getting a little frustrating in terms of not being able to get the maximum out of the car.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve give their ‘uncomfortable’ verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move

Adding to Button’s comments on Hamilton, David Coulthard said: “Silverstone felt more comfortable. Up until Silverstone, and putting China to one side, it’s felt uncomfortable watching Lewis there.

“He hasn’t looked as quick as Charles [Leclerc]. I don’t think any of the teams mind a fast Ferrari, because they are sort of the biggest name in the history of the sport.

“But at Silverstone, it looked like he was more on top of things. Was that just because it was Silverstone or not? That remains to be seen.”

Jacques Villeneuve has described Ferrari’s approach to this season as ‘odd’ at times, but is beginning to see the positives from Hamilton’s move.

He explained: “Lewis is slowly but surely putting his foot down, making this his team. That is very important for what’s coming next.

“He’s getting in a more comfortable place for himself. He has a lot of experience, he knows what it takes, and he’s biding his time.

“It was tough, and he hasn’t collapsed, so that’s good. He’s always been a very emotional driver, but it seems that he’s passed the deep wave, so he might be on the up wave right now.”

Gary Anderson was surprised by Ferrari’s recent test, where they explored whether the new rear suspension would be an upgrade or not.

Hamilton will be desperate for Ferrari to make his car more driveable to show anyone who doubts his abilities that his car has been the issue since his move from Mercedes.